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Central Provisions

4.3 (1.4k reviews)
Closed • 11:00 am - 2:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Updated 1 month ago

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CENTRAL PROVISIONS ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Trendy
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Central Provisions

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Anna N.

Everything here is so flavorful and cooked perfectly! My favorites were the peekytoe crab pancake, spicy beef salad, and the pork belly. The sauces for everything were delicious. My friend and I thought the bone marrow toast and rhubarb trifle were good, however could be skipped. I really like the strawberry nougat dessert thought! Textures were very well thought out here. Our waiter was so friendly and service was great! [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance is also very nice.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

Gina K.

My whole pallet is exploding. This place has to be in my top 10. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Very intimate setting.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We were fortunate enough to have Johnathan serve us tonight. His laugh is contagious and he never steered us wrong. He really knows the in and outs of the menu and has a great pallet for flavor. I will start with my top favorite, which was the spicy beef salad. The spicy beef salad was definitely spicy so if you don't like spicy, I wouldn't order. I would've never thought to put peanuts with meat, but it works in such a fantastic way. The CP chopped salad was also really good a pretty basic salad, but I would definitely order it again. Bone marrow toast is a definite must, the flavor is on point and rich. It was amazing and it came out piping hot. Pan roasted cod was really good but a little salty. The seared foie gras was full of flavor and paired wonder with the Vina Cubillo. The chocolate layered cake was the only thing that did not work. The flavors didn't layer for us. Compliments to the creative chef. This was not only dining but a full flavor experience that left us wanting more.

Beet Salad
Katie E.

After getting into Portland late on a Friday evening, we were wandering the streets around our hotel and decided to pop into Central Provisions for dinner. Little did we know we were lucking into such an incredible local favorite! We were able to snag a spot by the windows upstairs with no wait, but the place was packed by the time we left, so I'd guess you typically want a reservation. We started out with a couple of cocktails which we loved. They also had a great craft beer and wine selection for round two. Before I say anything else, I have to give our server a shoutout! I don't remember his name unfortunately, but he was SO nice and gave a bunch of great recommendations. Service was also super quick despite how busy it was. For our meal, the menu is all small plates, so we shared the spicy beef salad, beet salad, rigatoni, and bone marrow toast. Every single dish was a home run, but the raw spicy beef salad was definitely our favorite. I've never tried anything quite like it--our server described it as "refreshingly spicy" which was pretty spot on. Such a great balance of fresh flavors and savory spiciness. I'd come back just for that dish alone! The space itself is super cozy and welcoming, you get the vibe it's a favorite among tourists and locals alike. Will definitely be back the next time I'm in town, this ended up being one of our favorite meals of the trip!

Mushroom
Nat P.

Came here for dinner with a great experience from start to finish! Actually have been here before and each visit has been consistently excellent. The décor remains cozy and intimate and I love that you can sit by the bar and watch your food being prepared. For appetizers, we started with their Bluefin Tuna Crudo, which was buttery and tender. It just felt so fresh and melted in my mouth. I love that sauce that came with it. We also had the duck thigh and this dish was one we devour quick. It was crispy, light, and whatever sauce that was in there was amazing! The mushrooms was another standout. They were cooked perfectly and packed with deep flavor. But the star of the appetizer was the bread + butter. Their sourdough bread is literally one of the best sourdough I've had. Just incredible bread baked perfectly. Absolute heaven! We also got the Flank Steak a la Plancha which was beyond words. Just blew me away with how perfect it was. Everything was paired so well in here and each bite was just so memorable! The Seared Foie Gras was very rich, velvety, and melted in my tongue. But it needed bread. So we asked the server for that sourdough bread to pair with this and she was so nice to give us a few slices! We finished off with dessert, which we got the frozen chocolate mousse and this was the perfect ending to a spectacular meal. It was so smooth and rich. I wish I could have ordered another but I was so full at the time. Overall, wonderful experience and will come back again!

Olivia F.

Hands down one of the best lunches I've had in a while, I almost came back the same day for dinner! Loved the tapas style so we could try a variety of plates. We ordered the half dozen oysters, chopped salad, CP fries, bone marrow toast, lamb burger, and the duck confit grilled cheese. The oysters literally blew our mind - they were cold and were perfect sweet and spicy. We could have easily finished a dozen. The chopped salad was amazing a good for balance. The CP fries were the only thing we could have passed on. The bone marrow toast was incredible!! It's fighting for first place with the oysters. Cheesey, rich, and oniony on amazing bread. The grilled cheese was also amazing - so cheesy, the duck was tender, bread was toasty, and fig jam balanced it all. The tables inside are smaller and I would definitely recommend a reservation especially if you want a window seat.

Cod

Amazing!!!! [[HIGHLIGHT]]We sat at the chef bar where you could watch the chefs work.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] As a foodie. This was the best. Dinner and a show. Favorite was the cauliflower and cod

Becca D.

My final dinner during my first visit to Portland was simply amazing! I had made some new friends at a bar earlier in the day and when I asked their suggestions on a final nice meal, Central Provisions was a resounding YES! I got there around 5pm without reservations and the upstairs was pretty booked up but as usual, I asked to sit at the bar. So I headed downstairs to this cute bar area and set up shop for an amazing meal! The bartender was awesome and engaging, gave me lots of reccs for both drinks and food, and I just generally had a wonderful time chatting with him. I got a few different small plates - artichokes, turnips, and suckling pig. The pig was absolutely amazing but the surprise 5 star dish was the turnips that were on special that evening! They were SO good, and unlike any turnips I had ever had before! Artichokes were delicious too, everything was simply amazing. I had a few different cocktails that were also very yum, but the punch of the day which was neon blue in its cute little teacup had me smiling! If you're looking for a spot that's great for a special occasion or just your own personal splurge, Central Provisions is definitely the place to be! So glad I stopped in here before heading out of Portland!

Anastasia S.

We came in here before end of our night to grab a Maine Lunch Beer and Espresso Martini and my husband who doesn't like espresso martini wanted mine. It had cocoa powder and tasted like liquefied chocolate it was delicious!

Browne Point Oysters, Maine
Katherine C.

My friend and I had raw oysters, caviar, bread and butter, bone marrow toast, and pickles. We were lucky enough to sit at the bar and got to watch the chefs do their thing. The food came out in waves and everything was tasty. Nothing memorable though, I did have higher hopes based on the reviews. But I was a fun experience and I was able to try a lot of new foods! The server was knowledgeable and checked in on us regularly. The vibe is upscale with a fun atmosphere. Definitely felt like I could be at a tapas bar in Europe.

Menu
Ellen B.

My first time to Central Provisions and it did not disappoint! The menu consist of small plates, which are shareable. Everything we had was full of flavor, but the portion size was perfect for sharing with two. 4 plates and a glass of wine or 2 did the trick. We started with a black pepper popover with butternut squash butter special. Crispy, melt-in-your-mouth yummy. My favorite item was the blue fin tuna crudo. The fish was like butter with a flavorful soy sauce. I could've eaten a whole 'nother tray of that by myself! Next item was the beet salad with big chunks of red and yellow beets with a few greens. Very fresh. Last item was beef marrow toast. Salty, and very rich and so good! Even though these are small plates, the meal for two still ended up about $116 before tip. Waitstaff are true professionals and are attentive and nice. Small intimate space. I definitely will be back!

CP Frites
Riddhi G.

The food and service was amazing! [[HIGHLIGHT]]It was very cozy![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]We sat at the bar so got to see all the prep from the kitchen which we always find interesting.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Some of our fav in terms of drinks were Rebel Rabbit and Unleash the Lion. The food was really delicious! Some favs: Peekytoe crab and Oysters Escabeche. You def want to make a reservation!

Perfect location by the back of the bar
Taals B.

Perfect little store to get small bites. It was so filling. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We got to sit by the back which faced the cobbled streets, it was fun to watch people walking past and also all kinds of shoes[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] service was good , could've been a bit better but I guess it was good for Saturday night

I think I had the highest hopes for this restaurant based on the reviews. We ordered 4 plates. 2/4 were really good. The beet salad and bone marrow toast. The cod was okay. The caramelized sheep cheese was burnt and was able to eat one bite.

Bone Marrow Toast

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Central Provisions Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Central Provisions

Any public parking nearby?

A ton of parking, on the street (meter) or 'public' by the hour or by the day. Not cheap but not complicated

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I felt extra special attending a birthday dinner at Lucky Cheetah - the staff went the extra mile…read moreto make me feel special. Thank you team! Not to mention the food and drink was absolutely incredible.

I wouldn't recommend Lucky Cheetah…read more The aesthetics, atmosphere, and cocktails were all great, and I can see why the place is popular. Unfortunately, the service completely overshadowed the positives. The moment I walked in, I was asked if I had a reservation, which is perfectly normal. When I said no, the host gave me a look that felt very much like, "How dare you?" before telling me I was lucky they had one spot left at the bar. Oddly enough, the bar appeared mostly empty, but whatever. I was seated in what felt like the worst seat possible--tucked into a corner right next to the POS station, where servers were constantly moving back and forth picking up drinks. It wasn't exactly a comfortable or relaxing place to sit. The bartender was pleasant enough, but the overall vibe remained off the entire time. I felt less like a paying customer and more like someone they were reluctantly doing a favor for by allowing me to be there. I ordered the lobster and crab rangoon bags, which had a nice texture but were overwhelmingly salty. As soon as I placed my appetizer order, the menu was taken away, which made me feel rushed and unwelcome. The bartender also didn't check in much throughout the meal. It's a beautiful space with good drinks, but hospitality matters. Unfortunately, I left feeling unwelcome from start to finish, and I wouldn't return.

Photos
Decor in the back room
Decor in the back room
Sweet & sour cod
Sweet & sour cod
Sweet & sour cod

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Papi

Papi

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(109 reviews)
0.0 mi
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After a few days of eating ourselves silly on seafood, my fiance & I were dying to find something…read moredifferent. We didn't expect to find good Puerto Rican food in Portland, but I'm so glad we found this local gem! Reservations are recommended; they were still packed during the off season. We were lucky enough to snag two seats at the bar during dinner time without a wait. The bartender is super friendly and gave us some excellent food recommendations. We ordered the beef empanadas, pernil, and pollo guisado. Everything was DELICIOUS. The beef empanada filling is hard to beat - this might be one of the best ones I've had yet. We both really enjoyed the pernil & pollo guisado, but the soup was probably my favorite. I'm a soup gal, and this was just a hearty and excellent bowl of soup. Pernil portions were very generous. Definitely a highlight of our trip!

As a latina visiting Portland, I searched for Spanish food in the area and this place came up! I…read morewas pleasantly surprised and did not expect to eat at a Puerto Rican restaurant. I Gotta say it smelled soo good. Just like my mommas kitchen. The atmosphere was incredible, it was upscale yet cozy. The food was really good too.. The empanadas were very tasty and in also ordered tacos and corn fritters that were delicious as well. Only thing i didnt like is that their rice had an insane amount of olives for the serving size. I counted 18 olives in a small serving. I mean I dont mind olives but not that much. I ordered rice with guandules and I feel I got rice with olives. I honestly had a very good experience here and would definately come back if im ever in the area again.

Photos
Interior looking towards entrance
Interior looking towards entrance
Papi
Bar

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Bar

Central Provisions - tapasmallplates - Updated July 2026

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